The Relationship between Concern for Environmental Sustainability and the Capacity for Wisdom and Other Factors among Postgraduate Business Students: An International Comparison

The paper presents the results of an exploratory international survey, excluding USA, of postgraduate business students including MBAs. The central purpose was to consider the relationship between the propensity for wisdom and adopting an ecological perspective that is more compatible with long-term planetary sustainability. Other variables were considered. Students were more inclined to the New Ecological Paradigm [NEP], with a significant strong correlation between the level of wisdom and environmental concern. Stronger NEP and wisdom scores were positively correlated with subjective wellbeing and psychological wellbeing. Although there was no correlation between gender and wisdom, there was a positive correlation between wisdom and those with children as well as those who are partnered, suggesting the importance of experience in wisdom formation. Gender also did not correlate with environmental concern. Students reasonably strongly agreed with sustainability being a significant part of the Business degree curriculum. Further curriculum implications are provided.